“`The actor best remembered for his biblical epics is the subject of a new literary biography. Charlton Heston: Hollywood’s Last Icon chronicles the life of Academy Award-winning star of Ben-Hur. His friendship with director Cecil B. DeMille led to significant roles in The Greatest Show on Earthand The Ten Commandments. Heston, who died in 2008, is best known for playing Moses. Actually, the part was offered, after Marlon Brando and Rock Hudson turned down the assignment.

“`These films secured Heston as a motion picture star for the ages. Then followed Planet of the Apes; sci-fi thrillers The Omega Man and Soylent Green; and disaster movies such as Earthquake and Airport ’75.

“`After he went off to serve as a radio gunner on B-25 combat missions during World War II, he made a strong impression in live television dramas; and by 1950, Chuck had attracted the attention of movie moguls.

“`In 1961, Heston was among those protesting Oklahoma City’s segregated restaurants. Two years later, studio execs and colleagues failed to talk him out of joining the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington. Heston was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild six times, and opposed the cutting of federal funding for the arts. After the assassinations of King and Robert F. Kennedy, Charlton publicly backed the Gun Control Act of 1968.

“`Much like Ronald Reagan, Heston drifted from liberalism towards the conservative viewpoint. His late-in-life presidency of the National Rifle Association was a questionable performance given the toll of gun-related deaths. But, Heston viewed the right to own firearms in terms of liberty.

“`On a personal note, I sat in an audience to watch and enjoy Chuck Heston in a production of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. He was riveting; a terrific performance.

“`I expect the life of Charlton Heston will fly off the pages of his new biography.

Until next time> “never forget”

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 at 12:01 am and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco.
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